Vox Tox

The Material World

2006-08-07T16:42:00.000-06:00

There is something that keeps striking my soul with shock waves, leading me into thoughts of solution to one of the biggest problems spiritual people face, materialism. My own participation in the realm of materialism is usually the thread that shames me enough to start me in a thought process on how do I keep myself grounded in matters that transcend time and space.

The material world is exactly as it is named, material, and as is the nature of materials, they corrode, breaking down into dust (even if some take longer than others). We often, at least I do, forget that our bodies will one day breakdown and turn into dust as well. It is this lack of temporal conscience that I make more of an identity with the material than the spiritual.

Now I know this subject is not earth shattering to most people, but how many of us think about the real implications of our materialism as we’re buying our quad-shot mochas or our double-toasted bagel with almond-honey cream cheese? Sure the twinge of indulgence may come over us to knock on our conscience, but after the first bite of the good stuff I must admit I don’t answer the door. I just seem to read the note left by my conscience after it leaves in the form of my pants getting tighter or my bank account being lighter.

Are you knocked off your feet with this profound thinking?

Let me get to the point. We live in a material world and we are material girls and boys we cannot help it, because everything we do impacts the material world because we are housed in a material body. So to say that the material is bad or sinful or useless is ridiculous. The problem is, as with most things, the extent of our consuming energy towards any given noun that makes us unbalanced and unhealthy people.

Still, it seems to me that the true death-knell to a spiritual life is materialism. I don’t know if you are different than me, but like I said before, I can usually rationalize or justify almost any action I take at the time I do it. Yet unfortunately it is the aftermath of my decisions that seem to bring me to my knees looking for answers. The question for you and I is this, are we looking for answers that will really solve this problem or ones that will conveniently mask over our pain to make us feel better?

I have often heard this spoken of some people, “they are too spiritual for earthly good.” Every time I hear this it is used in a negative sense, and every time I hear this it rubs me the wrong way. For one thing I have never seen anyone too “spiritual for earthly good”. Mostly I see the people who are being called that as being either naïve in the matters of business or lazy people who don’t want to work and want to leech off others while coming off as more spiritual than others. Indeed that is not spiritual.

However, I would like to meet someone who is really too spiritual for earthly good. What would they be like? Are we to earthly for spiritual good? Too often I think I am. Yet I am relieved that my spiritual good is not based on who I am.

This week I want to kick back and fourth the nature of spirituality and materialism.

Looking at Sodom

2006-08-02T23:05:00.000-06:00

The other day I read in the Boulder Daily Camera that a guy was arrested for hitting a man soliciting signatures on Pearl Street for a movement advocating domestic partnerships.

Here is the headline “Man arrested on suspicion of bias-motivated attack”

The story goes on to say that the guy who hit the homosexual man did so after getting into a pushing match and walking away. He then returned 15 minutes later connecting a hook punch into the face of the gay man.

Now the question I asked was why? Why was this man’s anger so focused on hitting someone because they were gay? I doubt this happened simply because some guy was soliciting signatures, though it does make it hard walking down Pearl Street during election years.

In fact just the other night I was asked to sign the same petition while walking down Pearl. Immediately this story came to mind and I looked at the guy asking me to sign and I thought, “hmm, the proper response would not be hitting him.” So instead I said, “No thanks.” And moved on. However, I did get some remarks about not signing. I also noticed that in the immediate area of this solicitor were about five homosexual men just hanging out. Not together, but spread out, as if to pounce if any trouble started to happen. The whole thing was just kind of strange.

So why did I bring this up? Well, it is all about hate. I think every group of humans throughout the history of this world have hated some other group. Mel Gibson has been in the news recently also, the big deal is not his drunk driving it's his anti-Semitic slurs. The other reason is to ask this question, what does the Bible say about homosexuality?

So what are you thoughts? Are you thinking about Sodom? What was Sodom’s sin?

Hope to see you.

Left Behind? Yeah, I’ll Stay!

2006-07-18T23:11:00.000-06:00

Here is yet another doozy of a topic. This week’s topic comes from a question I was asked by cb last week who contacted me through the web site. I found myself short of time to answer, but thought it would be a meaty topic for us on Thursday night. I will attempt the impossible, being brief while talking about eschatology, more commonly known as the rapture.

Before I go into the question lets do what I said in the title, “Etymology of Eschatology” or really the word "rapture" (eschatology just goes better with etymology). The word “rapture” comes from the Latin word “rapiemur”.

I Thess 4:17 Deinde nos qui vivimus qui relinquimur simul rapiemur [suddenly caught up] cum illis in nubibus obviam Domino in aera et sic semper cum Domino erimus.

1 Thess 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

CB asked, “I read on your site that you don't see the Lord's return as soon.
I won't be able to come to Boulder, but..... a) I was wondering if you might be able to give a brief response as to why you believe that, or a website that I can visit explaining this view - and b) Is it good in God's eyes to pray for Christ's (really) soon return?”

Well, in a nutshell it is true I don’t believe Jesus will return soon as most people think of it as soon. I do think He will return, I do think it is very possible it could happen in my lifetime. Yet to say it could happen **poof** at any time is an uneducated opinion at best. Why? I thought you would ask that, and sorry to be so blunt, but pop-theology has done much damage in their quest to either fill their pockets or push their agenda of fear.

In my promise to keep this short I will point out a couple of things why I do not believe the “rapture” could happen at any given time.

1st - 2 Thess 2:1-4 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don't let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God's temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

2nd – This one is from my friend Steve who wrote this after researching this very topic. Click on the link to take you to his statement on I Thessalonians 4:15-18. Tell him what you think.

Link to Steve's Page

As for part B of the question, which I like very much (thanks for asking it CB!), well I want to ask one thing. Why do people want to pray for the Lord's soon return? Does life suck? Do people want others to suffer because Jesus' return would surely mean the wrath of God? Do people just want the presence of Jesus? Is the world just so bad that one feels that justice must come NOW! Look at the scripture below, Jesus is saying He is coming soon. Then there is a statement,"Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." The term "amen" is an agreement and the next word are what are being agreed upon, "Come, Lord Jesus."

Rev 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." - Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

As I read this it is impressed upon me that John has just had this revelation of all this heavy stuff. After Jesus tells John what is going to happen, I believe Jesus is reassuring John that He will be coming. John is saying after all this stuff he witnessed, "Come, Lord Jesus fulfill what you are revealing to me." I don't think he is saying this because life sucks, or that he wants people to suffer or that he wants to be in the Lord's presence any sooner than normal. Jesus says He is coming and John says cool do it.

Personally I don't care, my time on earth is what it will be. I don't pray "Lord come now." Well, that is not exactly true, I have prayed that prayer, but it was because my life really did suck and I wanted off this crazy third rock. However, I am now glad He didn't come and I have become a bigger person because of His delay. Read 1 Thess and 2 Thess a few times.

As always I want to hear from you regardless if you come on Thursday night or not. Please post your comments on my blog. I promise I won’t bite your head off. I just want to see what people think of this. Oopps, I went long.

Also link to this page on rapture just for a few other ideas.

How much does God know?

2006-07-04T16:27:00.000-06:00

Last week I didn’t post my message on the web site, nor did I post it on my blog. In fact I didn’t even send an email to invite people over. I completely let everything go, and yet people came and we had a good discussion on the sovereignty of God. More specifically the subject was on whether or not God is "all knowing, all loving and all powerful". However, it was a big topic and one that has many sides to examine and, like usual, once we dove into the subject the more we found discrepancies. For this reason I would like to open up this discussion again, but on another facet of the sovereignty of God. But first I wanted to share some of what we talked about last week.

Some wanted to know if God is "all knowing, all loving and all powerful" how come certain things do happen and other things do not happen. If God is all knowing, how can we have free will? If God is all loving, how come people go to hell. If God is all powerful, why do bad things happen? My question was "where does it say God is any of these things"?

Concerning what God knows, here are a few verses, "… O house of Israel; for I know the things that come into your mind".- Ezekiel 11:5 and "Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’" -John 18:4 and “And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen..." - Acts 1:24 OK, but what were the circumstances to what these verses are referring to? Humans are expressing their thoughts on God on what He knows and sees. I did a quick reference on God calling Himself "all knowing" and I didn’t find anything except God saying that He sees all of our actions. I am not making doctrine, just stirring the pot. But, as far as all loving, it was the same story. Even, the famous "for God so loved the world…" does not indicate an all-loving God, only that He loved the world and made a way for people to re-connect with God. So what about "all powerful?" Hmm, pretty much the same thing. Please correct me on any of this as you see fit.

The point is, is that we make conclusions upon what we have read, what we hear others say and largely upon what tradition has taught us. The big thing here is don’t put words into God’s mouth, is what we basically noted. Yet at the same time God is powerful, is loving and knows a whole heck of a lot, especially when you read Job.

Moving on-

Ahh, so what is the discussion this week? I can’t believe I am going to start this discussion, but does God know who will and will not be with Him in heaven? It’s the old Arminian vs. Calvinism debate (free will vs. predestination).

And though I know this drives someone crazy when I say this but, "does it really matter?" We’ll see this Thursday Night.

Original Sin?!

2006-06-19T23:49:00.000-06:00

Last week we got onto a rabbit trail of original sin. I had to stop the discussion for two reasons. First, only one person was enjoying it, well maybe two (me). Second, I can only watch people roll their eyes for so long. So, as I promised this person, this week we will rummage through the depths of original sin.

In my preparation I had to dust off some books I thought I would never crack again. In the back of my mind I could hear the voices of professors snickering, "I told you so, I told you so. I told you this was important." Now I am being tested as to whether or not my coffee-induced state bore any fruit in classes I had to take not want to take.

As it is with almost anyone who teaches there comes a time when even the things we think are elementary, only because of routine, and not due to its content, are challenged and we are forced once again to take another view of them. It is at this time that fresh eyes are needed to make what is ordinary become relevant. The topic of Original sin is just that for me this week. It is not just theological mumbo jumbo, it is center to a Christian faith. It does matter, even if the people who speak of sin the most get big popping vains, like to spit and yell. All I can say is that it wont happen here. We are a mild group who sack out on couches eating carrots and cookies.

So with this topic of original sin, are we all doomed to hell by one person, that person being Adam? Why is his sin our sin? That is, if you believe that we all come from Adam. How could one guy do so much damage? If original sin exists then can no one do any good? If sin is passed down through all people then Jesus, though born of a virgin, would still have sin right? Original sin or original blessing? Is sin just a wrong mind set? What if we adjust our thinking? What if I don't believe in sin, sure, bad things happen, but is it sin? Are we inherently good or inherently evil.

Does Your Faith Deliver?

2006-06-05T22:33:00.000-06:00

Each week I get a “Barna” update and 7 out of 10 times I don’t have the time to read them. This week was no exception. Now you may think what I am about to say is a completely made-up story and I don’t care. It is a 100% true account. As I was just now sitting down to write this Thursday Night topic I was asking God what to talk about. I got, “Does your faith deliver?” I then thought of Barna so I went to his web site and read his update: “Half of Americans Say Faith Has “Greatly Transformed” Their Life.” Let me say, that was all I needed this week to hit this topic of faith.

As it usually is with Barna, he breaks each study into %’s and other classifications done by surveys. Then in his Barna way he seems to say that what people feel the given religious topic of the week is usually a complicated mess needing more clarification. Barna then explains why people answered the way they did, while at the same time making issue, especially with topics like this that the answer people give usually do not have a totally biblical reason behind the answer. The point? We often believe things easily that have no real substance, but because we “feel” or just “think” very strongly about an issue or belief we tend to put a lot of emotional currency into our beliefs making it very difficult to look objectively at why believe what we do.

How do I know if you do this, how do I know if I do this? You and I say things like, “I don’t know, I just believe it’s true,” or “I can’t explain why, it’s just what I believe.” Is there no TRUE compass? Our downfall as postmoderns is our lack of compass. We like the “what’s good for you is ok if you don’t hurt others” idea, but get very upset when our beliefs are challenged, especially when they seemingly do not hurt anyone else. Interestingly enough, I think this is our strength as postmoderns as well. Why? Because of this we are very willing to accept almost anyone who does not look, act or believe like we do. And that is a very good quality. It’s just that damned thing of TRUTH. What is truth? Ahhh, a question that brings this to mind.

John 18:37-38
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." "What is truth?" Pilate asked.

Does your faith deliver? I don’t care what faith you are really, it is your business. But whatever you are how do you deal with the issue of “What is true or truth?”

To read the Barna article: http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=240

Being Hated

2006-05-29T22:45:00.000-06:00

Have you ever been hated? Chances are that you probably have. And for those people, who say of someone else, “No one hates ‘so-and-so.’” Well, they too probably have been hated as well. I know for a fact that I have hated some of those people myself. I don’t like saying it, but it’s true.

I have a friend who thinks everyone hates him and he makes that statement at least every time we talk. I don’t think he’s aware of his statements, and I don’t think he’s aware of the damage that kind of thinking does to someone. It might have more to do with the business he’s in than anything else. Yet for every time he berates himself I tell him that I don’t hate him, and that he is selling himself short, despite his very rough exterior. He needs the reassurement that he is liked even if he thinks of himself as a badass.

For me when I say I hate something, I am making a statement of intense dislike that my very essence has considered and has passed judgement upon. When I say “I hate fish” it is a little different than saying “I hate John.” When I say I hate a person I am making a judgment on their very character and judging it to be one I dislike because of a personality flaw that flaws the whole of his existence.

Then I read this:

Luke 6:27-36
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Too many times we pass judgment on people too fast. Are you righteous? Have you hated? Do you think you do not hate because you fulfill a requirement to “do right” to a person who does “right” to you? What happens when someone does you wrong? I hope the rest of your week can experience this first hand.

Hoaxes, Myths and other Deceits

2006-05-10T23:11:00.000-06:00

I can't stand getting silly e-mails asking me to send some chain letter on to ten people I know and to the person who sent it to me if I truly love Jesus. Ever get one of those stupid letters. I like saying as I delete them "golly Jesus, I guess I don't love you!" *click* delete!
Fact is the reason I do delete them is because I do love Jesus and I love the ten people I would send the letter to if I thought the info had any redemption to it at all. Why send them crap? I would be afraid if I forwarded something as ignorant as that, they would think me a moron too. However, it never fails I always get crap sent to me mostly from people who have good intentions, but can be easily swayed into thinking that these silly e-mail stories of some stupidness like the flap of a butterfly wing caused a storm some three thousand miles away. Please I know people will now just send me stories like this from now until Jesus returns, which by the way cannot and will not happen any time soon (at least in the next few months or years, come on Thursday Night and I'll tell you why and it is totally biblical.)
Thanks to e-mail stupid myths, hoaxes and deceits continually hit us. How can you tell which ones are right and which ones are not? Why do people eat this fluff up as if it had any truth to it? You are invited to join me and everyone else on this Thursday night for a discussion on why we believe the things we believe.

Live to Work or Work to Live

2006-05-02T23:17:00.000-06:00

What is it to work? Do you want to contribute to the betterment of humankind? Is work only for the purpose of making money? Do you want to be known for what you have done? Is the sense of accomplishment the main draw to why you work?

I ask YOU who are reading this to respond and/or show up on Thursday Night, do you feel zapped and dead from your work or are you energized? Now, whatever your answer is, ask WHY? I want to know!

In this system of capitalism we live, work and have our being in, there is one driving force that is so powerful, so absolutely pervasive, that no matter what side of the political coin you are on, or no matter how sensitive you are to other’s needs, or how spiritual you are, that it bends and warps minds to meet it’s objective regardless of your best intentions.

What is it? Some call it greed, others call it the bottom line, and still others call it making a living. I call it ME First! Yet the result is the same, be productive or get fired! What have you done for me lately? If you can’t get the job done then don’t let the door smack ya where the good Lord cracked ya! Adios!! Good bye and good luck! You suck! Next!

Business demands the fastest and the best to become faster and better. This makes people insecure and it also makes people come up with sayings like “C.Y.O.A.” (if you don’t know what that means I’ll tell you, just ask.)

Is this what you want?

Work is necessary, right? But what about the purpose behind work? Are we hitting it or missing it? In the book of Genesis we are shown how work began. It had purpose; it had joy and true accomplishment. Then we see how it becomes a few paragraphs later, hard, toiling and burdensome. Why?

When the work was good was God concerned with time? Was God looking at Adam then looking at his watch? When work became, well you know "work" was God concerned with time? Was He looking at his watch and looking at Adam?

Is this how work should be? Is this how we are resigned to live? Or can we bust out of this trap? I think we can, but I think it depends upon a few important things I would like to talk about this Thursday.

Where is the love?

2006-04-16T22:49:00.000-06:00

I have said many times in my life that for most people the goal in life is to love and be loved. Although I remember a conversation I had with a friend about ten years ago when he told me that his goal was to experience everything that he could experience. Therefore, experiences are the one true goal of people because we will only do things to serve ourselves (if we come from the perspective that we are self-centered). Experiences, then, have to be our goal for this one reason alone: we will only do what we truly WANT to do. If you are fat, you will stay fat until you decide to change it. You will be poor until you decide to make money. Your lot in life will remain the same until you decide to change it.

To some extent this may be true, but in the overall scheme of the whole picture I disagree. I believe that there are forces out there that can bind people to a problem to which there is no escape. Unless of course there is someone who can come to the rescue that has more knowledge, strength or resources to free the person from that which has them in submission against their will.

Love.

It’s the one key ingredient that initiates the power to break all bondage. Though a self-centered person may help out another person, it is really only for the purpose of throwing some other monkey on the weaker person’s back. This cycle becomes a vicious game of manipulation that breeds a culture of retribution and deceit. However, love is something that can bring freedom and life. For love will not seek to bind people, but to empower them.

For the most part I do think people do want experiences. We tend to be selfish people with one goal and that is to please ourselves. However, I don’t think anyone would do very well in life if it were not for love. Joseph Carey Merrick, better know as John Merrick or even better as the Elephant Man, had one of the roughest lives I could think of, yet even in his life he was shown compassion and love. What that did for him was amazing. However, those who wanted the experience of a freak show used Merrick for their own good.

Are you living for experience or for love? Which one lasts the longest?

Learn more about Merrick at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Merrick

The Prophecy of Easter

2006-04-12T21:19:00.000-06:00

I debated this topic for longer than I should have. At first I wanted to stay away from the Easter message because it is something that will be available in any church this Sunday, however, Easter is just such an interesting topic I really wanted to hit on it.
Easter is in my opinion the pinnacle of the Christian Faith, because without Easter Christianity can’t exist. Easter is the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus. But was this event of Easter just a bad thing that happened to a good guy in the wrong place at the wrong time? Or is Easter really a message from God that is traceable through prophecy. I would like to show you what I have found.

Every Word That Proceeds...

2006-04-02T15:55:00.000-06:00

This week we will have a guest facilitator, Steve Shannon from Colorado Springs. Steve has been a close friend of mine for over 20yrs, my brother from a different mother.

During this time he has been on a journey that has been one of questioning and learning. He has poured his life into studying the bible, extra-biblical writings and prophetic words (from the legitimate to the bizarre and shockingly stupid).

From his questioning and studying he has found much of what we do and say in church today to be mostly man-made tradition, superstition, and out-of-context interpretation. Which, sadly, has made churches irrelevant, out of touch and worst of all a place that puts chains of bondage on people instead of freeing them with words from God.

This is not church bashing, only the state of most churches today. In saying all this I am in no way saying we have all the answers. We are only questioning to find the answers. And you are welcome to question us as well.

Steve will be asking questions important to anyone on a spiritual journey such as: How do we
hear from God? How do we know it is God? Do you prefer paper or plastic? Leno or Letterman?

What is Enlightenment?

2006-03-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Perhaps it is because of my recent fight with my new web page software that I ask this week's question, what is enlightenment? According to a definition search the following are some examples of what many think of when the term "Enlightenment" is brought to mind.

~ Education that results in understanding and the spread of knowledge
~ Nirvana: (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness
~ A movement in the 18th century that advocated the use of reason in the reappraisal of accepted ideas and social institutions

I think in my case I am leaning toward the first definition. Though I did not have someone to teach me, I had to pound through all this junk the hard way. Though it was hard I understand it easily now. Such is life; everything is easy once it is known how it is done.

In the spiritual realm this is just as true, this is why there are spiritual guides, gurus, Swamis, pastors, rabbis and a host of others who have important titles we look to bring us the spiritual goods. When we feel that our answers have been adequately answered we often say that we have enlightenment. If we have a good feeling or a new paradigm shift that brings a clearer picture as to what our life is all about we too will say that we had enlightenment.

For many in Eastern religions "Enlightenment" is often the attainment of Nirvana (both words can be interchanged), which is a nothingness of complete conscience or rather "Buddhahood". The Dalai Lama said that to be a real Buddhist one must aspire for Nirvana or Enlightenment. This path to Nirvana happens by steps of awakenings through awareness.

When speaking in Jesus terms, enlightenment happens when we become aware of Jesus and what He has done for us. Enlightenment really occurs when the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus to us. For some this comes easily for others it is difficult to understand and the mind and heart are unable to receive. However, we are promised that if we seek we will find.

In the quest for truth and spiritual awakening there is much common ground for anyone on a spiritual journey. The person must be willing to change, seek, and learn and by no means is there a short cut. All paths are made to we walked one step at a time. Yet where many walk a lifetime to get to an awakening a follower of Jesus starts with awakening and walks to change into a more spiritual person. Sadly most followers of Jesus do not understand this and become somewhat awakened, but never walk the path to full enlightenment of what Jesus wants them to become.

Come and let's discus how to become Enlightened.

What is Peace?

2006-02-21T22:28:00.000-07:00

He is a sage who has abandoned violence towards
living beings, be they moving or stationary,
and who neither slays nor causes others to slay.
~
There is no fire like lust, no blemish like demerit,
no suffering like the taking up of the ill body,
no happiness like peace.

-Buddha: on peace
____________________________

When you abandon every desire that rises up within you, and when you become content with things as they are, then you experience inner peace.
When your mind is untroubled by misfortune, when you desire no pleasures, when your emotions are tranquil, and when you are free from fear and anger, then you experience inner calm.
When you are free from all attachments, when you are indifferent to success and failure, then you experience inner serenity.
When you can withdraw your senses from pleasures of the senses, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs, then you experience inner wisdom.
When no pleasure and no desire can touch the soul, then you experience the highest state of consciousness.
Yet even those who are close to this state, can suddenly be carried away by a sudden surge of desire. Thus you must learn to meditate, controlling your senses, and focusing your- self entirely on me.

Gita 2.55-61(The Bhagavad Gita is the most widely reserved single
text in India.)
_________________________
… the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God." "You believe at last!" Jesus answered. "But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jesus on peace
____________________________

Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.
It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man
~
Peace will not come out of a clash of arms but out of justice lived
and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds.
~
Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and off at will.
Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our being.

Mohandas K. Gandhi on peace
_____________________________

I love reading these quotes on peace. Too much of my life has been spent on hating and fighting, but as I fall on the anvil of truth my spirit breaks at what a mess I have made of many things in my life, all for one reason, lack of peace.

As I pounded out a topical search on "peace" associated with all the religions I could think of the only ones I found doing any justice to the subject are Buddhism, Hinduism and Judeo-Christian faiths and any variance of those faiths. I did find it odd that some faiths did not openly discuss "peace" though they say they are either for peace or that they are peace. I suggest doing a web search on all the faiths you can think of while tagging on the end of each faith "..and peace" to see what you find.

Also, I found it interesting that Jesus says that peace is something that is found in Him. Others say peace is something you must attain as some quest a follower of truth must take. I think it is possible that it could be both. I don't disagree with any of these quotes in essence. But my only questions are, what type of peace are we talking about? Are they all the same? And yes, I will dis Miss America, is world peace even possible? Frankly I don't think it is, talk to me and I'll tell you more.

Culture and Faith

2006-02-15T23:48:00.000-07:00

Is this hippie relevant for today? Perhaps, but to how many people?

Culture and faith, how are the two connected? At first this may sound like a simple question with a simple answer. But is it? Many times faith, no matter what it is, comes with it's own culture. History, traditions and geographical locations usually dictate culture as well. Over time what seems to be relevant becomes irrelevant, but the dictates of those in charge of the expressions of faith usually have little or no tolerance to change. For many this becomes obvious as they realize that change must take place. Yet due to many issues of money and power struggles within leadership, change is usually difficult to manage.

Culture nowadays is as difficult to grasp as smoke. You can see it but it is always changing and if it sits stagnant for very long will dissipate and will be even harder to find. However, if faith is to be relevant isn't culture one of the main ways to do it? How much of the way you practice your faith comes with traces of your faith's culture that has no relevance to the culture you live in? How do we live by our faith without loosing the importance of it opposed to being relevant to the community at large?

I ask these questions this week because this is not only one of my favorite subjects, but because it is sometimes very easy to spot those who refuse to let go of their "religious culture" for a more relevant connection by a more relevant culture.

Guilt and Grace

2006-02-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

Guilt and Grace

I know how most Christians deal with guilt, by beating themselves over their heads until they feel better. The rough definition of a flagellant person is a "holy man," "monk," "religious devotee" or a "puritan." Go ahead do the MSWord thesaurus look up and that is what you will find.

However, the real definition of being flagellant is the act of extreme mortification to ones own flesh by whipping it with various instruments. Sorry, but that sounds painful and sick to me. Unless you are into that sort of thing being flagellant is not what I would call a healthy way to deal with guilt or anything else really. No matter how good this practice makes you feel, beating yourself with things to make you bleed or feel pain just cannot help you in the long run, because it masks the true pain of the guilt.

Does anyone know what a Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu do when faced with guilt? I will find out or we can find out together. If you are of one of these faiths then join us and let us know. Is it possible to not feel guilt without being a jaded person or someone without a conscience?

The fact is, is that when we feel bad for something we have done then we want to make amends to the one we offended. At least in some cases. I venture to say it happens more than not for the average person. Should we feel bad when we mess up? And for Christians where does grace come into the picture?

So how did flagellant become synonymous with "holy man" anyhow? It just isn't right I tell ya!

Walking on Thin Ice

2006-01-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

Is this a warning or a challenge?

I was in Estes Park last week and saw this sign, right then I knew I had to take this picture.

When I was a kid we would take a short cut to and from school along an irrigation ditch that lead into a small reservoir. During the winter the lake would freeze over and we would walk on it and draw or write things into the snow like "Go Broncos" or "so-and-so is stupid" or other colorful expletives that seemed fun to write in 20-ft letters.

This practice of walking on ice would become so common place during the winter that we would sometimes run onto the ice even on hot days with no hesitation or concern of the condition of the icy lake. One day changed all that. My friend Bill and I were walking across the ice and saw a small hole in the ice and went over to take a look inside. When we got close the ice cracked and Bill fell into the water. Strangely I did not panic and I knew exactly what to do. Bill was lucky and did not go under the ice when he fell in. He could not get out by himself so I lay flat on the ice to spread out my weight and anchored my body the best that I could. Bill grabbed on and climbed out. We ran home and told no one what had just happened. I saved his life, but Bill never wanted to talk about this ever again.

Have you ever walked on thin ice? I seem to have made a practice of this in my life. Sometimes I know the ice is thin, and other times I don't, I guess I just haven't learned my lesson. I wish I could just walk on the safe path, but it just isn't as fun as walking on the ice.

Two years ago I did a documentary here in Boulder where I asked people about their spirituality. Most people said they were spiritual, but many did not know how they would express it. There were ideas and there were some good thoughts, but most people had not sat down to think this over. If we are spiritual and believe we are, then why would we not put thought into this? I would, and I have. In fact, I have thought about this for the last 20yrs. I hope I will continue for as long as I live. How do you connect spiritually? I want to know. If we are spiritual but give no thought to our spiritual side then are we walking on thin ice in the material world? If and when we fall through the thin ice it may be too late.

Be A Life Long Learner

2006-01-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

I hated school when I was a kid and when I had the chance to stop going after high school graduation I did. I joined the navy and set sail to Europe and the Middle East. What a thought I had last week when our only guest Hanna braved the snow and made it over to our house. We started talking and asking the usual questions of "where are you from?" and "how did you get here?" and everything else that comes with meeting people. Then she drops the bomb. Her mother graduated from the same high school as me, so I ask how old is your mother, and she tells me 40. Now I'm losing it, she is basically the same age as me and this means I know her mother (it was a small school) I just can't believe this. I keep asking questions and we do the math on her mom's age and her graduation date and come to find out she is five years older and I would not have known her. Whew, what a relief! I could see it now, old yearbook photos being laughed at as someone reads the bubbles coming out of my mouth that say, "duh" "I'm stupid" and whatever else some immature person would do to a poor soul such as me. How do I know? I know these things because I did that to other people in my yearbooks. Yeah I was a jerk.

Well at the ripe age of 30 I began my under-grad degree and finished when I was 33. I took a few years off and went back to get my Masters. I think one day I'll go for my Doctorate in ministry. None of this matters really, but to say this: It took me a long time to realize that learning was good and healthy and not a waste of time and the jewels I picked up along the way not only changed my life, but challenged my way of thinking. I have come to love that challenge. I love it when someone thinks differently than me and challenges me in my thought process.

Last week I had a meeting with someone who wanted to know how the emerging church interacted with environmental issues. I gave them about an hour and let them know how I see it and how I personally live with this issue. He asked me if this would be something I would use as a discussion point on Thursday night. So what the heck. Let's do it. I am a nincompoop really when it comes to this issue. I recycle and bought a hybrid car and try to do my part, but I know there are people out there who know more that me.
Teach others and me we want to learn.

A response to an encouragement from a Friend

2005-12-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

The Following is part of a response from a friend that read my update to encourage me. I thought I would blog it because I really opened up to some things I was feeling. I think it was a good thing.

Thanks for the call and thanks for the response to my update it means probably more than you know.
There has been a warring inside of me for a few months this very thing you "read between the lines." Part of me does enjoy the type of ministry I do by getting into people's homes and getting to know them and then there is another part of me that wishes I could spend more time in ministering by getting to know people I meet relationally in life, such as a coffeehouse, pub or restaurant etc...
However, due to the typical traditional minister mindset the people who I talked to for support could not understand what I envisioned in Boulder and as a result did not see it necessary to support me. This is how I fell into starting my own company; I needed income and flexibility.
I do think you are right about "real ministry" and that it is getting into people's homes and making connections. For me it is just the longing to have both the ability to get in people's homes and not having to worry about money. The only thing that I hold onto at the end of the day is that God really did call us here and he did not call us here to kill us, and if He called us then He will support us. Thus far He has supported us and has met the need every time.
A few thoughts on this lifestyle that seems hard to reconcile with my inner self. I am getting older and I have no retirement plan, the way this current situation is I am using every bit of money I bring in, no money for retirement plan. Ah, but my spiritual man says to me, "Paul did not have a retirement plan either, he just did what he had to do." This is the higher road in my opinion. I will follow this and forget about this stupid life and as Paul called it "Shit", because we should see no glory in what the world has to offer. Sure the world can be beautiful, and it is, but what has happened to ministries and Christians overall is that we worry to much about what the future will bring and that is, in my opinion, a worldly response to our future and is detrimental to the future of ministry. We think too much on what is going to happen to us in the future and try to hedge off any negative thing that might happen to us. Money then becomes our goal, God then becomes weak and God is no longer a true provider if he doesn't provide us with some cold-hard cash, Sugar Daddy Jesus.
Yeah, the way I see it, too many people out there in ministry are banging it out for a buck in the name of Jesus. Does it ever cross my mind? You bet it does, I could sell-out and get some coin in my pocket, but it is not what I am called to do nor is it what I want to do. Further more, should I be bold and say precious few of us are called to make big bank in the ministry?
It just rakes my heart when I look at the lives of the people who believed God was their God in the bible and gave up everything to live for Him as they gave up things we try to protect like family, friends, money, power, etc... Yet, what is many times preached is a message saying "have your cake and eat it too." This is unrealistic and ridiculous, yet time after time I saw my fellow seminarians buy into this junk because it is what is being feed in the churches. Many will turn away in the end days. Crap, I wonder why?
Thank you for your encouragement. It means very much to me. Something I did not put into my update that I wish I had remembered to do are examples of what has happened in people's homes I've been into.
One family had a son who committed suicide and could no longer live in the home so they wanted to sell it. Before they put it on the market they wanted to remodel the kitchen and master bathroom. There son's name was Matthew, as is my name, and there was an instant bond. I was in there home for some time and got to know them as well as one of the guys working for me. The guy who was working for me felt very strongly to pray for them and ask them about how things were in there life. When we left we had touched their lives in a very powerful way.
Another lady wanted me to remodel a bathroom and do some other handyman things around her house. In the process of being there a month I got to know her and one day as I was doing some repair work she made me some coffee. When it was ready I took a break and talked with her. She then began to tell me of the abuse she went through and how her husband moved to Costa Rica. After a year of separation she filed for divorce and her husband flew back up to the States and pleaded with her not to do this. She had fist holes in her walls made from her husband dated, she did this to mock him. One date she remembers was February 14th, Valentines Day. As she told me this she started to tear up and I was able to comfort her. She was not at a point that I could openly pray with her, but just being there with her to comfort her were all I needed to do for her at that time. I bought her flowers at the end of the job and told her that things will be all right.
Another family has had me do work for them a couple of times. The woman still works a couple of days a week as a nurse practitioner, but the man does not, he has health problems that stemmed from childhood diabetes and some other issues that have occurred due to poor health care providers. Well to say the least it intrigues people when I tell them that I have a master’s degree, because they see me doing construction work. This leads many people into asking me questions. This was the case of this family. I told them that I just graduated from seminary in Springfield, MO. It just so happens that the man is from Springfield himself. For that one commonality alone a bond between them has happened and I am now at a point I am able to pray with them and talk to them in a deeper way about things of life and Jesus.

Matt Smith

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

2005-12-15T13:48:00.000-07:00

Have you seen it?
Half expecting a line of biblical proportions we purchased our tickets early. Yet when we got to the theater there were plenty of seats still available. It was opening night and anyone wanting to go could have gone no problem.
Lucky me, I was, with a handfuls of others, fortunate enough to sit in front of three pubescent boys (honestly I thought they were girls because of the way they were talking and the high pitch in their voices) who burped, farted, laughed commented and shushed each other throughout the movie.
However, I did get one glimmer of hope when one of them wondered why Aslan was willingly giving himself up to the witch. "What is he doing that for," the gnat brain said. I just prayed, "Dear God I ask of you, let this dope get the meaning of the movie and please when he is my age let him be in a movie with his family as pubescent teens sit behind him farting, burping and laughing."
Big battle scene, but where was the blood? This was not Gladiator, Braveheart or the Patriot. It was more like M*A*S*H the TV series in it's first few seasons. The cleanest surgery staff in the Army, no bloody wounds in all of Korea. Wow, so very, very realistic. Yet if it were bloody gnat boy would not be able to see the movie and make an observation between his burp and fart because it would have been rated R.
Peace,
Matt

Into Boulder

2005-04-21T22:42:00.000-06:00

Well we finally made it to Boulder! It has been a hairy couple of weeks with getting ready for the move and finishing up school, well almost finished, close enough to walk the graduation in a little over a week. The drive from Springfield to Boulder seemed longer than it usually does because I had no one to talk to, well I had our dog Kit, but she slept the whole way, Sarah had Sam but he slept most of the way too. We were both tired and going on very little sleep (14 hours for three days!). So around 12 midnight I was slapping myself to stay awake and thought this is stupid, we should pull over get a hotel and sleep, but we didn't. Our determination to get to Colorado was too strong and we gathered what little power we had to stay awake and made it. Very tired, but we made it.

About 10 miles out of Boulder I decided to turn on the radio to KBCO a Boulder radio station with an eclectic rock motif. Anyway, I had the radio station on just wanting to hear what was playing and to keep me awake. As anyone who has been to Boulder will tell you there is a great site to see when coming in on Hwy 36. The highway goes up a hill and then drops down into Boulder, and at night as you crest the hill you can see all of Boulder. It is at this exact moment, I mean exact moment, a song started, it was Green Days "Good riddance" or "Time of Your Life". Then directly after that Supertramps "Give a Little Bit". Judge for your self, but I think it was a God thing and I think it was a welcome from God to us just to say hey I called you here and you are going to be alright. Still not convinced? I put the lyrics down below.

Good riddance (The time of your life)
Another turning point
A fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist
Directs you where to go
So make the best of this test
And don't ask why
It's not a question
But a lesson I learned in time

It's something unpredictable
But in the end it's right
I hope you had the time of your life

So take the photographs
And still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf of good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth
It was worth all the while

Give a Little Bit
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
Give a little bit
I'll give a little bit of my love to you
There's so much that we need to share
So send a smile and show you care

I'll give a little bit
I'll give a little bit of my life for you
So give a little bit
Give a little bit of your time to me
See the man with the lonely eyes
Take his hand, you'll be surprised

Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
I'll give a little bit of my life for you
Now's the time that we need to share
So find yourself, we're on our way back home

Going home
Don't you need to feel at home?
Oh yeah, we gotta sing

I'll keep you posted

Almost Done

2005-04-12T20:33:00.000-06:00

Well, as my last bloc suggested I had quite a bit to do, but it's done now (that is, as far as school work is concerned, except one last final). Now I get to concentrate on getting the house ready for the big move. Sarah has packed the whole house and is pushing me to give up my desk and office. I will comply. I have to finish up some loose ends such as some tile work and a bit more of deck work, but that will be it.

I will be pretty busy from here until the move so I don't know how much I will be able to bloc, but I will try to get something in between now and then. But if I can't, my next blog will be from Boulder!

Everyone keep an eye out for a new video on the web site. I just completed a 5 min. Video on death. I used a track from The Godfathers (not the movie, the one hit wonder new wave band from the 80's) called Birth, School, Work, Death and another track from the featured artist on the web page, The Restoration Project with a song of theirs called Dirty Game. I think people will like this. It will hopefully be a good tool to reach people on the fringe.

that's it,
till next time?

The in-betweeners

2005-04-05T21:07:00.000-06:00

I have moved 19 times in the last 21 years. I could end this blog just with that! 19 times! Wow, that is a lot of moving, what have I been running away from? Nothing. It is just that in the last 21 years I started in Colorado went in the Navy, went to bible college in Philadelphia, moved back in with my parents, moved out, got my bachelors degree (started in Texas ended in Utah) got married, and now getting my Masters degree in Missouri. Now I am going back to Colorado. Whew! I'm tired!

My house is filled with boxes, my mind is filled with clutter, and my wallet is filled with lint. In the immortal words of "Smokey and the Bandit" (the first one) "I've got a long way to go and a short time to get there."

Between now and then I have to write two more papers and take two more finals, oh yeah, then come back and graduate and take one final class. I won't even mention the things needed for a smooth move to Boulder or the things Sarah has to do, the blog would be too long.

Oh well, two months from now all this will be a joke and I will have new stories to tell, like of all the remodeling we will have to do and meeting my neighbors and all the other people I will finally meet (like you Chris) I can't wait to meet you and your family!

All this come down to a feeling of being in that in-between mode the unsettled and little rest. Mi vida loca!

In A House - A Place We Are Called

2005-04-04T14:32:00.000-06:00

In a few days, 20 to be exact, we will be in Boulder and having church in our home.

This is not the way I wanted to start and one year ago I would not have considered it. I wanted to have a place to meet, I wanted a lot of people to start out with, I wanted to look legitimate. None of these is happening. Basically it is my wife and I. By the way, no church planter or church plant boot camp would suggest this start.

How spooky all this seems to me, and how hard it is for me to admit. Yet we still are called to Boulder and we feel we cannot walk away. We feel bound. Some suggest we should run away from going to Boulder, but we cannot. Not because of pride, but because of peace. I would love to call this off. The cost of living is ridiculous in Boulder and everything costs more than anywhere else I would like to go. Where I live now I could live like a king for what I will spend in Boulder. However, none of this matters, what matters is that God has given us the ability and the way to live in Boulder and he wants us to use what we have to reach the people in Boulder.

A man once told me that it doesn't matter where I go, just as long as I go. I did not buy that then and I don't buy that now. Where a person goes is important, just look at Paul being called in a dream to go in a different direction or St. Patrick called to Ireland. Does it matter where one goes. YES. We are called to Boulder. I love that.

So we are going to Boulder, by ourselves and with no or little help. I love it. If this is God's work He gets to pay for it. I look forward to seeing how it will work. Hmmm, is this faith?

I'll leave you with a question. Why is it that church plant experts say we need a team when we plant in the US, but when a "missionary" goes to a foreign country it is acceptable to go by ones self? Are the people in other countries somewhat inferior and only need a handful of people? (thanks Earl)

I am going to Boulder and nobody wants to go because the price is too high to pay or because I can't pay them. They like the idea of going to Boulder, but it is a hard thing to do, "ministry" that is, when being bi-vocational. Paul did it. I'm going to do it. I can't blame anyone, this is a call and when that sinks in, when it is right; the right people will be there.

If you feel called somewhere just go and see what God does. (from Stan by way of Earl)

Pax out baby!

My First Blog

2005-04-03T14:10:00.000-06:00

I have joined the ranks of the millions who have gone before me. My first blog. Now my mother can put one more addition to my baby book, "Baby's First Blog" Awwww how cute.

What this really means is that I have too much time on my hands and I needed an outlet, or I think I have something worthy to say and I plan on saying it. Hmmm, neither is true, I just wanted to be cool and have a blog.

I hope to put my thoughts down about the emerging church as I live it and experience it as Sarah and I start our church plant/mission to Boulder.

See ya around.